Protests on 2nd anniversary of Bangladesh building collapse

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Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of Socialist Action. These are expressed in editorials. Socialist Action is edited, Subscribe to Socialist Action Demonstrations took place around the world on April 24 to commemorate the second anniversary of the collapse of the Rana Plaza building, near Dha­ ka, Bangladesh. The building housed five garment shops, which produced clothing for close to 30 major brands and retailers in the West.

At least 1134 workers, mainly women, lost their lives in the disaster. Children of the workers, who were playing in the factory nursery, were also killed.

Some 2500 people were able to escape, but many emerged with crushed limbs and other injuries.

Rana Plaza was owned by Sohel Rana, one of a Socialist Action: Where we stand is driving down living standards and threatens all life on this planet.

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$5 for 6 months / $10 for 12 months number of local gangster capitalists who had gained quick riches by building sweatshops for the interna­ tional garment trade. When cracks appeared in Rana Plaza’s support pillars a day before the collapse, Rana refused to evacuate the building although an engineering inspector had demanded that he order everyone out. Rana fled the area before being cap­ tured, and has not yet been prosecuted.

Unchecked expansion of the garment industry in Bangladesh, and the call by retailers for cheap and rapid production, meant that safety regulations were often ignored. The Tazreen Fashion fire in 2012 killed at least 117 people. Since then, at least 68 major fires have ignited in Bangladeshi factories, with 30 deaths.

effectiveness of mass action. the establishment of a workers’ government, and the fight for socialism.

• Ashland, Ore.: damonjure@earthlink. net tion, more than 2800 claims from the Rana Plaza disaster, relating to over 5000 injured workers and dependents of the deceased, had been received by late 2014. Some retailers have resisted demands that they pay an adequate amount into the fund to cover those claims; at least 15 companies who did business with Rana Plaza have paid nothing. As of last month, about $24 million had been made available to the fund—short of its $30 million goal.

In order to press demands for full accountability, United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) recently organized a tour of colleges around the United States, which featured former Rana Plaza worker Mahinur Begum and Kalpona Akter, director of the Bangla­ desh Center for Worker Solidarity. Begum, now 18 years old, was completely buried in the building col­ lapse, and had a toe amputated.

After a long struggle against the demands of the workers, their families, and their supporters, The Children’s Place, a U.S. clothing retailer, agreed last month to pay $2 million into the claims fund. n • Portland, Ore.: (503) 233-1629

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